CALLICOON — The Town of Callicoon discussed a property tax exemption for volunteers, the sale of an unused reservoir in Youngsville and increasing New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) bills for residents in the community.

A public hearing regarding property tax exemption for volunteers was briefly opened during Callicoon’s meeting on Monday, February 10, but Supervisor Tom Bose decided to suspend it because local volunteers were attending a viewing for recently passed Sullivan County Fire Coordinator, Richard A. Martinkovic. Bose repeated his comments from January’s meeting that he “totally disagrees with the state law” that bases a volunteer’s tax exemption on their property value. 

He said that he recently had a meeting with New York State Assembly Member Paula Kay at her office in which they discussed funding sources, state policy and sales tax, as well as the tax exemption issue. He said Kay was receptive to his concerns over the law. Bose also said he is in talks with State Senator Peter Oberacker, who agrees that the state needs to rewrite this property tax exemption law so it is more equitable to volunteers. 

Additionally, Supervisor Bose made remarks about a piece of landlocked property in Youngsville with a small, unused reservoir and proposed that they sell the land. Town Attorney Marvin Newberg suggested getting an appraisal of the land before selling it if it’s not too expensive. The board members also agreed to expend approximately $400,000 highway funds to pave about two-and- a-half miles of roads selected by the Highway Superintendent Ryan Bose. 

The board agreed on a resolution that added new language into a renewal agreement that provides “indemnification and insurance coverage in favor of the town.” The original agreement, made in 1955, named the Town of Callicoon as an additional insured on all its insurance policies applicable to the Shandelee Fire Protection District by the Livingston Manor Fire District.

Sullivan County Legislator Cat Scott said that Move Sullivan, a public bus service operated by the Sullivan County Transportation Department, is expanding out to Livingston Manor, Roscoe and Callicoon Center, and that the new route would start before the end of the month. 

NYSEG bill leaps

Scott also referenced chatter in the community about high NYSEG bills and, as a result, she’s been talking to Assembly Member Paula Kay and NYSEG to better understand what’s driving the rate increase. She explained that “people with day/night rates are getting hit really hard with the supply rate.” She also said some people are receiving high meter reads, which she distinguished as a separate issue. 

Supervisor Bose asked if the high rates were related to the smart meters being installed. Scott acknowledged that suspicion, however she said there is no correlation between high rates and smart meters. She said NYSEG gave no explanation for the recent rate hike, but Scott offered to personally look at residents’ bills and advocate on their behalf. 

One concerned resident said that his electric bill doubled over the course of two years. Scott further explained that the NYSEG delivery rate has increased significantly since 2023 and the supply rate is not fixed and depends on the fluctuating energy market.